Cancer Survivorship Support and Resources
After you finish cancer treatment, you might wonder what happens next.
The answer is different for every person. Some people go back to living the way they did before diagnosis. Others find life significantly changed by their cancer experience.
Your challenge will be to figure out how to return to everyday life while adjusting to the effects of the disease and treatment.
PeaceHealth St. Joseph Cancer Center is glad to share several survivorship resources to help you along the way:
Supportive Care at St. Joseph Cancer Center
Social workers can help you with many things, such as:
- Planning to return to work
- Managing relationships after treatment
- Coping with the ups and downs
Social workers are available as needed. Support groups are available either in person or via Teams. Please call 360-788-8222 and ask for a social worker.
Dietitians can help you eat well with intention. They can meet you where you are in your journey to healthy living. 360-788-8227
Spiritual care team members can provide
- Emotional, existential and spiritual support
- Practices and resources
- Space to process changes in identity, spirituality, life purpose and meaning
Cancer Transitions™ Class
Many people have difficulty making the transition to life after finishing cancer treatment.
Cancer Transitions™ is a 4-week virtual or in-person interactive educational course. It covers many of the challenges cancer survivors face, including:
Session 1 – Get Back to Wellness: Take Control of Your Survivorship & Eating Well
Session 2 – Your New Self Journey: Incorporating Meaning & Movement into Your Daily Routine
Session 3 – Defining Healthy New Emotions & Its Effect on Relationships & Life
Session 4 – Medical Management Beyond Cancer: What You Need to Know
In each session, a clinician from St. Joseph Cancer Center will:
- Talk about psychosocial oncology
- Encourage group discussion
- Teach behavioral health concepts
More importantly, it’s where you can feel you’re not so alone. You can share concerns and learn from other participants. You can be part of a community of people going through similar experiences.
Cost: No charge
Who: Patients who have completed cancer treatment 3 weeks – 3 years ago. (You might need permission from your physician to participate.)
In- Person**
3 – 5 p.m., Thursdays, August 6, 13, 20 and 27
** In-person classes meet at the St. Luke’s Health Education Center, Room E, 3333 Squalicum Parkway, Bellingham.
Virtual-only
1-3 p.m., Thursdays, October 1, 8, 15 and 22
We strongly suggest using a computer with video capability rather than a tablet or phone.
What you will need:
Please be on time and ready to have fun & learn!
At the first in-person session, you will receive a gym bag, worksheets, pedometer and other course materials.
For more details and registration, call 360-788-8236, or email Kateri Stommes at kstommes@peacehealth.org
You may sign up for any of the sessions listed above – whichever fits your schedule best.
LiveStrong Program
LiveStrong is a cancer survivorship program for those living with and through a cancer diagnosis.
It focuses on the person, not the disease. LiveStrong gives people the means of moving beyond cancer in spirit, mind and body.
As more people survive cancer, this evidence-based program plays an important role in helping survivors get back to living or adjusting to a "new normal."
LiveStrong sessions are offered at the Whatcom Family YMCA in the Fall, Winter and Spring. Pease email Karrie Inman, Health Living director, for information or to sign up: kinman@whatcomymca.org.
Connect with Survivorship Support
For more information about any of these survivorship programs, contact Kateri Stommes, Survivorship Coordinator, (kstommes@peacehealth.org) at Peace Health St. Joseph Cancer Center.